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The Appointments Commission (CA) unanimously confirmed Wednesday the appointment by the Cabinet of the former legislator and Philippine envoy to the United Nations, Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., as the new Secretary for Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Senators and members of Congress, meeting in plenary session of the GC, chaired by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, also approved the recommendation of the CA Foreign Affairs Committee approving the confirmation of the acting appointments of 47 other officials of the CA. DFA.
On the recommendation of the committee, confirmed persons included FDFA officials with the rank of head of mission, career minister and foreign service official.
Prior to confirmation, Locsin responded to questions from some legislators. Asked about the implications of the option announced by the Duterte administration to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), Locsin said that this "does not legitimize any human rights violations".
He added, "We have a commitment against crimes against humanity in local law. It was far from an instinctive reaction, "referring to the decision to inform the ICC of plans to withdraw from Manila.
Locsin recalled that "provocations from the ICC started from the moment he [Duterte] was elected president. And from the moment he launched his war on drugs. "
Also questioned in his confirmation hearing, Locsin noted that "the doctrine invoked much what they call the responsibility to protect."
Recalling some of the policy statements he made when he was Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN, the Harvard-trained lawyer said, "I have put in place question this doctrine to the UN. I said that the doctrine says that states have the responsibility to protect people from their own security forces. I said that there was something wrong with that, because the first obligation of states was to protect law-abiding people by means sufficient to achieve that goal. " said Locsin. "In the meantime, there will be repeated denunciations about the conduct of the war on drugs."
This, even though he acknowledged "that there were of course some tragic incidents, meron [some people] died in crossfire, but to me it was a legitimate war against a criminal syndicate …[part of the State’s] responsibility to protect the innocent against those who want to harm them. "
At the same time, Mr. Locsin reiterated that the Duterte administration, by addressing the problems of the Western Philippines Sea with China, had already informed its Chinese counterparts of the position of the Philippines. "As I said in Davao during my first meeting with Wang Yi, I said that it is not true that we renounce this right, we do not give up an inch of what is given to us in the arbitration award in Unclos ", referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Foreign Secretary added, "It is generally accepted that we live with what is there. The differences in China's maritime characteristics may never be solved, but they may someday be resolved. "
He further acknowledged that "differences will be present, but nothing prevents us from overcoming them to cooperate in areas where we have mutual benefit."
Senate Speaker Ralph G. Recto began his support speech by unanimously confirming Locsin's unanimous confirmation as Secretary of Foreign Affairs. He had received a message from a Dubai-based Filipino worker living in Dubai, asking him to confirm the candidate because he is an OFW, also known as the "Outstanding FaceBook Warrior".
Recto claimed this description and, apparently referring to Locsin's active presence on Twitter, said: "Even though we may not have missiles to launch, we have something more powerful: the Locsin missives, for which no shield has proved effective against their devouring fire. "
(Text of Senator Rectos's speech)
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson Sr., who also delivered a sponsorship speech, asserted that the foreign affairs candidate "is distinguished by his skills and qualifications" worthy of someone who should be at the head of the FDFA.
"Irrepressible, articulate, very independent and extraordinarily prolific in writing," said Lacson about Locsin, who he also described as "always a maverick, sharp-witted and acerbic" – never monotonous and never ordinary ".& Yun bang nang-iinsulto to nanlalait na masarap pa rin pakinggan to excited ka pang marinig ang mga susunod na sasabihin [even when he’s insulting, the words are so nice to hear you get excited to hear what he’ll say next]. "
Lacson recalled that the same Appointments Commission "recently" has unanimously and decisively confirmed "the appointment of Locsin as Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN." As Ambassador, until whatever it is personally chosen by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the country's first diplomat he [Locsin] has made its mark in the international community of nations. "
Second Teddy Boy gained his journalistic career acumen for three decades.An incurable book worm he was the editor of the Philippines Free Press, and national broadsheets Daily Globe and today. He welcomed Teditorial, affectation and Perspectives on TV. He has also co-hosted the executive radio programs Executive Session and Karambola, "added the senator.
Locsin transferred his Today "Free Fire" column to the BusinessMirror several years ago and he writes for this newspaper until today.
"As Secretary of Foreign Affairs, we all agree that it is [Locsin] will bring its own diplomacy, one that represents the true value of an independent foreign policy enshrined in our Constitution, "said the senator, adding," I dare to say it without mental reservation. If he succeeds and succeeds in the current businesses that he currently occupies, with a constitutional challenge, but that would catapult the Philippines into the league of rich, influential and economically powerful nations, we may now be able to designate a future President of the Republic of the Philippines. "
Locsin was a lawyer and publisher-publisher when he was first elected to a nine-year term as Makati MP in 2001.
This is his second time in the Cabinet, after being press attaché, presidential legal advisor and speechwriter during the chairmanship of Corazon Aquino in 1986.
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